Access and Functional Needs Advisory Committee

Board and Commission Details

Meeting Information

​The Advisory Committee shall coordinate meetings occurring, at a minimum, 6 times each year, in addition to emergency meetings called by the chairperson of the Advisory Committee.

Function

The Advisory Committee shall: (1) Research and provide recommendations for identifying and effectively responding to the needs of persons with access and functional needs before, during, and after a disaster using an intersectional lens for equity. (2) Provide recommendations to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency regarding how to ensure that persons with a disability are included in disaster strategies and emergency management plans, including updates and implementation of disaster strategies and emergency management plans. (3) Review and provide recommendations for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and all relevant State agencies that are involved in drafting and implementing the Illinois Emergency Operation Plan, to integrate access and functional needs into State and local emergency plans.

Term

Of those members appointed by the Governor, the initial appointments of 6 members shall be for terms of 2 years and the initial appointments of 5 members shall be for terms of 4 years. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for terms of 4 years. A member shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs in the Advisory Committee membership, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Senate Confirmation

No

Compensation

None.

Composition

The Advisory Committee shall be composed of the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency or his or her designee, the Attorney General or his or her designee, the Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee, the Director on Aging or his or her designee, and the Director of Public Health or his or her designee, together with the following members appointed by the Governor on or before January 1, 2022: (1) Two members, either from a municipal or county-level emergency agency or a local emergency management coordinator. (2) Nine members from the community of persons with a disability who represent persons with different types of disabilities, including, but not limited to, individuals with mobility and physical disabilities, hearing and visual disabilities, deafness or who are hard of hearing, blindness or who have low vision, mental health disabilities, and intellectual or developmental disabilities. Members appointed under this paragraph shall reflect a diversity of age, gender, race, and ethnic background. (3) Four members who represent first responders from different geographical regions around the State.

Chair

After all the members are appointed, and annually thereafter, they shall elect a chairperson from among the members appointed by the Governor.

Authority

20 ILCS 3305/23


Member Names

Name Member Expiration Member Since Affiliation Appointed By Position Title County
Anderson, Allison 02/07/2026 02/07/2022 Governor Member Representative from a municipal emergency agency or local emergency management coordinator
Knight, Samuel 03/30/2024 03/30/2022 Governor Member Representative from a municipal emergency agency or local emergency management coordinator
Roach, Todd 02/07/2026 02/07/2022 Governor Member Representative of the Disabled Community
Meskin, Kira 02/16/2026 02/16/2022 Governor Member Representative of the Disabled Community
Cox-Stowe, Dorothy 02/25/2024 02/25/2022 Governor Member Representative of the Disabled Community
Botz, Angela 02/25/2026 02/25/2022 Governor Member Representative of the Disabled Community
Jennings, Kenneth 03/16/2024 03/16/2022 Governor Member Representative of the Disabled Community
Colon, Randy 03/28/2024 03/28/2022 Governor Member Representative of the Disabled Community
Pak, Jae Jin 04/21/2026 04/21/2022 Governor Member Representative of the Disabled Community
Jones, Robin 09/16/2024 09/16/2022 Governor Member Representative of the Disabled Community
VACANT Governor Member Representative of the Disabled Community
Gauvin, Scott Statute Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency or designee
Meka, Anu 01/11/2022 Statute Director of Public Health or designee
Levitan, Judith 12/27/2021 Statute Attorney General or designee
Kuriniec, David 12/17/2021 Statute Secretary of Human Services
Eckert, John Statute Director on Aging or designee
Tieman, Dale 05/06/2024 05/06/2022 Governor Member First responder from a different geographical region
VACANT Governor Member First responder from a different geographical region
VACANT Governor Member First responder from a different geographical region
VACANT Governor Member First responder from a different geographical region